Here’s How Turmeric Can Help You Lose Weight!

A compulsory spice in most North Indian kitchens, turmeric is a staple in every Indian household. It is used since ancient times due to the medicinal properties it has. The primary antioxidant present in turmeric is curcumin. Turmeric is said to help one deal with stomach issues, metabolic disorders, obesity and many more problems.

Though having huge quantities of turmeric is surely not a way to lose weight, but turmeric is said to reduce the inflammation associated with obesity. Thus, it can give your weight loss plan a boost.

Anti-inflammatory Property

Obesity leads to inflammation, which increases your risk of developing chronic diseases, including diabetes and heart disease. Curcumin, which is an antioxidant, suppresses the inflammatory messaging in fat, pancreatic and muscle cells. This can help reduce high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar and other metabolic conditions, says a study published in European Journal of Nutrition.

It’s easier for your body to focus on weight loss when it does not have to fight inflammation.

Turmeric is Anti-obesity

A 2009 study conducted on mice at the Tufts University, found that curcumin can actually suppress fat tissue growth. But similar research has not been done on humans. So it can’t be said with certainty if turmeric has the same effect on humans too.

Turmeric and Weight Loss Connection

Though turmeric suppresses the fat tissue growth and helps to reduce inflammation, it is no weight loss miracle. One should surely incorporate turmeric in their every meal. However, you also have to make sure you create a calorie deficit if you want to lose weight. The combination of right diet and exercise is what will help you lose weight in a healthy manner.

The number of extra calories you burn should be equal to the number of calories you are having less. So let’s say, if you consume 2000 calories in a day and want to burn 250 more calories than what you normally do. In that case, you must also consume 250 calories less than what you normally do. That is, you must consume 1750 (2000-250) calories every day.

Including Turmeric in Your Diet

Add turmeric to your vegetables, milk, smoothies and salads. Turmeric has no side effects until one is allergic to it, which is very rare. When taken as a supplement, it can interfere with certain medications, so do not forget to consult your doctor before you do so. If taken in high doses and for a long time, it can upset your stomach and cause ulcers. Diabetic people should especially take care as it can cause low blood sugar when taken with diabetes medication.